Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade as part of Ireland's hosting of the EU Presidency from January 2013, two contracts have been signed with two Dublin hotels (details supplied) to provide accommodation for the visiting delegations, the amount of money each of these contracts is costing the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51293/12]
View answer165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade as part of Ireland's hosting of the EU Presidency from January 2013 contracts have been agreed with chauffeur firms, if he will provide the total cost of these five or six contracts to the Irish taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51294/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
The requirement for hotel accommodation for incoming delegations attending the eleven informal Ministerial meetings in Dublin during the forthcoming EU Presidency was advertised for tenders using the Government Procurement Portal www.etenders.gov.ie. The objective was to leverage the collective buying power of all Government Departments and Offices for these events and thereby secure better value. A good competitive response was received and the hotels mentioned in the Deputy’s question were identified as the most economically advantageous for the various events in question. Departments who will be hosting informal Ministerial meetings in Dublin will be contracting individually with these hotels for their requirements at the tendered rates.
While the precise number of rooms to be booked will vary between meetings, the Presidency will pay only for the hotel room for the Head of Delegation.
Similarly, it was decided in the interests of better competition to have an advertised tender for ground transport requirements during the Presidency. A primary competition was held to establish a framework of five suitably qualified service providers from whom a range of transport services will be procured by further competitive mini-tenders held by Departments/Offices over the coming months as and when needs arise. This framework is open to all Government Departments and Offices for their Presidency-related transport requirements. Details of the arrangements may be viewed on the National Procurement Service website www.procurement.ie.
The provision of transport by the Presidency will be strictly controlled. My expectation is that, due to the concentration of Presidency events in the Dublin area, and the economies envisaged, the accommodation and transport costs for the Presidency will be kept under tight control.
